Biography: ·Numa had been born on the day Rome was founded (21 April) ·His father was Pomponius; Numa was the youngest of his four sons and He married Tatia, the daughter of Tatius ·Was the son-in-law of Tatius, a Sabine who had ruled Rome as co-king with Romulus for a period of five years ·After Numa's wife died, he had become "something of a recluse", and was believed to have been taken by a nymph or nature spirit called Egeria as her lover ·Lived in Sabine town of Cures
The day Pompilius succeded as king
Knew all the laws of God and man ·Said he owed his learning to Pythagoras(this may be untrue for he settled in southern Italy) ·His name was put forward as successor to King Romulus No one was a rival candidate ·Numa refused the position of king at first, but was later talked into accepting by his father and Marcius, a relative, and some of the local people from Cures. ·He was known as the King of peace ·He ruled for 43 years (Livy 52, 56)
Temple of Janus
A Coin of Numa Pompilius
Accomplisments:
·Built the temple of Janus to serve as a sign of peace and war alternation ·This signified that the city was in arms, closed, and the wars with neighboring cities were over ·He signed various treaties of alliances ·He pretended he met the goddess Egeria at night, and she guided him to teach his people various rites-he taught them all these rights from his own mind ·Divided the year into 12 lunar months ·Inserted intercalary months-every 20 years the cycle is completed and the days come to correspond with the starting position of the sun ·Fixed “lawful” and “unlawful” days-these are days when a public business might or might not be transacted (Info above from Livy, 54) ·Frequently appointed a priest of Jupiter-he marked the person who ahd this job as important by having them wear an
elegant
A tapestry painting of Pompilius on his throne
robe and have a royal chair ·Ensured that religious duties in the royal office should not lapse ·He created Mars and Quirinus priesthoods ·Appointed the senator as Pontifex-he gave him instructions for religious observance ·(The Pontifex taught proper form for the buriel of the dead and propitiation of the spirits)
(Livy, 55) ·Diverted everyone from military preoccupations ·Instituted an annual ceremony dedicated to the Troth-keeping Became “the jealous guardian of peace even more then power”
(Livy 56)
Significance:
What makes this king important? ●Added strength to the growing city of Rome by PEACE (Livy, 56) ●He gave people new things to think about and consider; this took them away from their military preoccupations (Livy, 56) ●Affected them in a religious light; religious aspects controlled their lives more than fear of breaking laws ●Men looked up to him and modeled themselves after him ●made many accomplishments (see accomplishments) such as the pontifex who ordinary people could consult for advice...(Livy, 55) ●also made many religious reforms and turned the people who were constantly fighting into people who thought that violence was sacrilegious.
Fun Facts:
●Numa was the youngest of four boys ●lived a life of severe discipline and lack of all luxuries ●legends says that a nymph Egeria taught him his wisdom ●often goes to the copse (stream) to meat with Egeria alone ●Also Jupiter had a shield fall from the sky that had "prophecy" written on it meaning it was fate for him to be king of Rome ●He first turned down the position; thought it would be crazy for him to be a king because of his religious position and love and justice in a city who is into violence and war ●his father convinced him otherwise (to be king) ●ruled for 43 years
By Shannon and Sam
Biography:
· Numa had been born on the day Rome was founded (21 April)
· His father was Pomponius; Numa was the youngest of his four sons and
He married Tatia, the daughter of Tatius
· Was the son-in-law of Tatius, a Sabine who had ruled Rome as co-king with Romulus for a period of five years
· After Numa's wife died, he had become "something of a recluse", and was believed to have been taken by a nymph or nature spirit called Egeria as her lover
· Lived in Sabine town of Cures
Knew all the laws of God and man
· Said he owed his learning to Pythagoras(this may be untrue for he settled in southern Italy)
· His name was put forward as successor to King Romulus
No one was a rival candidate
· Numa refused the position of king at first, but was later talked into accepting by his father and Marcius, a relative, and some of the local people from Cures.
· He was known as the King of peace
· He ruled for 43 years (Livy 52, 56)
Accomplisments:
· Built the temple of Janus to serve as a sign of peace and war alternation
· This signified that the city was in arms, closed, and the wars with neighboring cities were over
· He signed various treaties of alliances
· He pretended he met the goddess Egeria at night, and she guided him to teach his people various rites-he taught them all these rights from his own mind
· Divided the year into 12 lunar months
· Inserted intercalary months-every 20 years the cycle is completed and the days come to correspond with the starting position of the sun
· Fixed “lawful” and “unlawful” days-these are days when a public business might or might not be transacted
(Info above from Livy, 54)
· Frequently appointed a priest of Jupiter-he marked the person who ahd this job as important by having them wear an
elegant
· Ensured that religious duties in the royal office should not lapse
· He created Mars and Quirinus priesthoods
· Appointed the senator as Pontifex-he gave him instructions for religious observance
· (The Pontifex taught proper form for the buriel of the dead and propitiation of the spirits)
(Livy, 55)
· Diverted everyone from military preoccupations
· Instituted an annual ceremony dedicated to the Troth-keeping
Became “the jealous guardian of peace even more then power”
(Livy 56)
Significance:
What makes this king important?
●Added strength to the growing city of Rome by PEACE (Livy, 56)
●He gave people new things to think about and consider; this took them away from their military preoccupations (Livy, 56)
●Affected them in a religious light; religious aspects controlled their lives more than fear of breaking laws
●Men looked up to him and modeled themselves after him
●made many accomplishments (see accomplishments) such as the pontifex who ordinary people could consult for advice...(Livy, 55)
●also made many religious reforms and turned the people who were constantly fighting into people who thought that violence was sacrilegious.
Fun Facts:
●Numa was the youngest of four boys
●lived a life of severe discipline and lack of all luxuries
●legends says that a nymph Egeria taught him his wisdom
●often goes to the copse (stream) to meat with Egeria alone
●Also Jupiter had a shield fall from the sky that had "prophecy" written on it meaning it was fate for him to be king of Rome
●He first turned down the position; thought it would be crazy for him to be a king because of his religious position and love and justice in a city who is into violence and war
●his father convinced him otherwise (to be king)
●ruled for 43 years
Sights to Consider: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numa_Pompilius
http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa052599.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/numa-pompilius
http://www.everything2.com/title/Egeriahttp:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numa_Pompiliushttp:ancienthistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa052599.htm